Thermal transformation of water-dispersible magnetite nanoparticles

This paper presents a study on rapid hardening behaviors of β-C₂S by accelerated carbonation curing. β-C₂S cubes compacted at various molding pressures were subjected to different CO₂ concentration for accelerated carbonation curing. The CO₂ uptake and microstructure changes were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), QXRD, FT-IR and MAS-NMR. The results indicated that CO₂ uptake was affected by molding pressure and CO₂ concentration seriously. TG analysis indicated that the carbonation reaction was rapid in the first hour. The carbonation degree reached 21.6% and giving a compressive strength of 85.7 MPa after 6 h carbonation in 99.9% CO₂ concentration. And it showed a much less carbonation degree in 20.0% CO₂. Calcite, vaterite and amorphous silica-rich phase formed in the carbonation progress. The FT-IR and NMR analysis indicated β-C₂S was decalcified to C–S–H gel and further decalcified to formation of an amorphous silica gel composed of Q ³ and Q ⁴ silicate tetrahedral. The chain length of C–S–H gel increased from to 2.67 to 6.36 with prolonged carbonation time, showing a lower C/S ratio and higher polymerization and also resulting in a lower C–S–H content.